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WASHINGTON—On February 12, President Trump submitted his $4.4 trillion fiscal 2019 budget request to Congress. This budget did not take into account the higher caps on spending in a budget deal passed by Congress and signed by the president last week. President Trump will likely submit an addendum to his budget, which allocates this additional amount of spending. Last year, President Trump proposed significant cuts in his budget, however, Congress reinstated many of his proposed cuts. We expect the same this year since the budget resolution signed last week called for increases in the caps on spending.

WASHINGTON—The Navajo Nation adamantly opposes a bill that would slash 85 percent of the land from Bears Ears National Monument and limit tribal input in management plans, President Russell Begaye told federal lawmakers Tuesday. President Begaye was one of five tribal leaders who testified during a hearing of the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Federal Lands—the second such hearing this month. Leaders from the Ute Mountain Ute, Uintah and Ouray Ute, Hopi and Zuni tribes also testified, presenting unified opposition to H.R. 4532.

WASHINGTON—In the interest of clear meaningful communication to address health-related issues affecting Native Americans, Vice President Jonathan Nez, tribal representatives and federal officials convened at the IHS Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) meeting on Jan. 24. Vice President Nez advocated all employees of IHS be considered “essential personnel” as part of the agency’s strategic plan in the case of a federal government shutdown. On Friday, Jan. 19, the United States Congress failed to come to an agreement on spending, which led to the 19th government shutdown since 1976.

WASHINGTON—Congress passed a three-week continuing resolution (H.R. 195) allowing the federal government to be funded through February 8, 2018. The continuing resolution is now headed to President Trump and he is expected to sign the measure.

WASHINGTON—In the face of drastic budget cuts to the Special Diabetes Programs for Indians, Navajo President Russell Begaye on Wednesday called on Congress and federal agencies to prioritize Indian health and allocate funding for essential programs. President Begaye told top federal administrators that the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) is essential on the Navajo Nation, where one in three people is diabetic or pre-diabetic. His remarks, delivered at a meeting of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, came the same day the House Rules Committee considered a short-term funding bill designed to avert a government shutdown Friday.

Welcome to the Navajo Nation Washington Office

Founded in 1984 and located on Capitol Hill, the Navajo Nation Washington Office serves as the Navajo Nation's advocate with Congress, the White House and federal agencies. The NNWO monitors and analyzes congressional legislation, disseminates congressional and federal agencies' information, develops strategies and decisions concerning national policies and budgets that affect the Navajo Nation.

About Us

Who We Are

Learn more about the Navajo Nation

Learn More

Who We Are

Enter Washington, DC from any direction, on any road, and you will experience its most striking qualities--national monuments, world- renowned museums, and most importantly, the center of the United States political power.

The Navajo Nation has a storied history with the United States government that has resulted in a government-to-government relationship between the two sovereigns. This relationship finds its foundation in our sacred Treaty of 1868. Navajo leaders since then have been meeting with Washington, DC officials as sovereigns.

As a result of this government-to-government relationship the Navajo Nation has found it necessary to continue the Navajo Nation's presence in Washington, DC and thus officially opened the Navajo Nation Washington Office in 1984.

The Washington Office monitors and analyzes congressional legislation, disseminates congressional and federal agencies’ information, develops strategies and decisions concerning national policies and budgets that affect the Navajo Nation. It also assists the Navajo Nation in developing legislative language and testimony.

The NNWO is located on Capitol Hill and serves as the Navajo Nation's advocate with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies. Since August 1984 our office has served as an extension of the Navajo Nation government to represent our concerns to the federal government and agencies.

About Navajo

Learn more about the Navajo Nation

Learn More

Who We Are

The Navajo Nation is the largest tribal nation in the United States, with over 300,000 citizens. The Navajo Nation extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, encompassing over 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Diné Bikéyah, or Navajoland, is larger than 10 of the 50 states in the United States.

The reservation includes more than 14 million acres of trust lands, which are leased for various productive uses, including farming; grazing; oil, gas, and other mineral development; businesses; rights-of-way; timber harvesting; and housing.

Visitors from around the world are intrigued and mystified when they hear the Navajo language – so, too, were the enemy during World War II. Unknown to many, the Navajo language was used to create a secret code to battle the Japanese. Navajo men were selected to create codes and serve on the front line to overcome and deceive those on the other side of the battlefield. Today, these men are recognized as the famous Navajo Code Talkers, who exemplify the unequaled bravery and patriotism of the Navajo people.

From the Blog

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of the Interior released proposed land into trust regulations including reinstating "the 30-day delay for taking land into trust following a decision by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary."

The abstract reads:

"This rule revises existing regulations governing off-reservation trust acquisitions to establish new items that must be included in an application and threshold criteria that must be met for off-reservation acquisitions before National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance will be required. The rule will also reinstate the 30-day delay for taking land into trust following a decision by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary."

Acting Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Michael S. Black, invites Tribal leaders to attend one of the listed listening sessions to provide input on improving "efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability" at the Department of the Interior.